Alexander Bodunov, a Soviet forward during the very pinnacle of international hockey success for CCCP, died earlier today (11 May) in Moscow at the age of 66.

Bodunov made a name for himself in game three of the Summit Series in Winnipeg. The 20-year-old played left wing on a line with Vyacheslav Anisin and Yuri Lebedev. They didn’t play much in the first half of the game but when the Soviets fell behind 4-2, coach Vsevelod Bobrov gave them more ice time, and they responded.

Canadian media dubbed them the “Kid Line,” and this troika scored two goals to earn the visitors a tie which felt like a loss to the Canadians. Lebedev made it 4-3 later in the second period and Bodunov tied the game at 18:28. The scoreless third period was a demoralizer to the Canadian team and media.

Bodunov played league hockey with CSKA Moscow for three years and after the Summit Series he moved to Krylia Sovetov for most of the rest of the decade. As well, he played for the Soviets at the 1973 and 1974 World Championship, winning gold each time. He also played in the 1974 Summit series featuring the Soviets and stars from the World Hockey Association.

Bodunov was known for a deceptively hard shot and a quick release. Not big, he nevertheless could fire the puck with the best of them.

He ended his career in 1982 and later went into coaching, working behind the bench as recently as 2009 with Vityaz Chekhov.

Andrew Podnieks